Your Cat Doesn't Need To Touch Your Fish To Cause Them Pain

Indoor fish tanks can be a great form of entertainment for your cat. However, the free show could be placing extra strain on your fish. Feline stalking behaviors, such as pacing back and forth in front of the tank, pawing at the tank, or attempting to pounce on the fish inside, can all make for a stressful situation. In addition, open tanks could pose a danger to your cat if they knock it over or drink the water.

Excess stress can weaken your fish's immune system. While it may be difficult to tell if your goldfish is happy, it is a bit easier to spot the signs of stress. You may notice your fish attempting to hide more or moving in erratic patterns. Stressed fish can also show physical changes like a decrease in their usual bright coloration or streaking on their fins. Fish might also stop eating or be less interested in their food. Chronically stressed fish with a weakened immune system are also more prone to physical illnesses such as Ich (a.k.a white spot disease), a parasitic infection that can be fatal.

Thankfully, fish and cats can exist together without causing one another pain. Changes in both the tank environment and how you play with your feline can help.

Keeping fish and a cat can seem tricky. However, with the right approach you can ensure they maintain a happy, healthy life together. For fish, it's a good idea to make sure their aquarium offers the ideal environment to minimize internal stressors. Having plenty of tank decorations, such as natural plants and rocks, can provide additional hiding spots for your fish to get away from watchful eyes; however, the ideal amount of such elements will depend on the fish breed. Additionally, the tank should be protected from your cat. Be sure to keep any smaller tanks that can be toppled over out of reach.

Providing additional enrichment activities for your indoor cat may keep them from becoming too obsessed with the tank, giving your fish a break. Feather toys can mimic the movement of fish and encourage play in different ways. Be sure to set up these items in a different location from the tank to help prevent your cat from associating the tank with play time. Cats interested in the water part of an aquarium may also enjoy splash games or other water toys for felines to get out excess energy. Toy fish kept in a tub can keep your cat entertained without bothering your real fish.